My long awaited tummy tuck! I definitely made the right choice

When I wrote my review, I didn't have time to add pics it's still early but I am thrilled already. I have hated my body for so long. I don't need to be "perfect " just more "normal". I will update after things settle more and also when I have a belly button

I have 4 kids. The last two were twins and I had a c-section. My twinskin has bugged me for 18 years now. I've always wanted a tt but there were always kids to take care of. For all of these years I watched my diet and worked out. But the tummy always bugged me. This year, my two youngest went to college and the military so I realized, now is the time! I made two appointments.

I made one with Dr Louton and one with Conemaugh. Dr Louton was able to get me in a week before Conemaugh because he had a cancellation. I planned to do both and compare. But, I went for my first appt in Oct and I really liked everyone there. The waiting room was nice. Not like a regular Drs office. I filled out my forms. Medical history and such. I didn't wait long at all and they took me back.

The nurse asked me what I was there for. I showed her and she wrote it down. She said she'd be back with the Dr. The Dr came in and asked the same question so I lifted my down. He looked and said, "yeah that's a tummy tuck." Then he touched up where my bra band is and said, "That's all skin. You probably thought it was fat. it's not" At this point I had to contain myself from either hugging him or ugly crying from happiness. So I asked 300 questions.

At one point he asked if I was in the medical profession. I'm not.. but I'm not sure if he was curious or annoyed with me LOL Not in a bad way. He was very nice and very thorough. To backup - my daughter ended up having eye surgery this day - so I was a bit on edge and having to check my texts during our consult because of this. Both Dr Louton and Tiffany couldn't have been nicer about it. SO he left. I was finishing up info with the nurse.

And my husband (who works out of state) texted, "You seem to like them. book it" So I told her I'd book it. We went over everything and I went to the front desk to book. If i remember correctly it was 20 % down. Paid that. And booked Nov 24. I went home and they called that day moving me back to Dec. 3.

I was bummed, but thought one week later isn't a big deal. I waited this long! My preop was Nov 9. I went and and again went over all medical info. So my one pc of advice. When they ask those questions you tell them every little thing EVERY single time. At this point I told them I was allergic to Penicillin ON paper, in the office visit one, and in the office visit 2.

So they gave me my prescriptions to get filled and we went over all of the preop and post op info I'd need. I really like Dr Louton. He relies on supplements for healing. More on that in a bit. WE then went back to do pictures. So I went to check out and finish paying. I paid and the person at the desk checked the schedule again. She asked if I wanted Nov 17th instead. WELL YES!! My surgery was a Tuesday.

Another nurse called me Friday afternoon and told me my check in was Tuesday at 6:45 AM. My husband and I made reservations at the Microtel because I'm an hour away and we thought since we have to go back the next AM, it would just be easier. We also spent the night before there, so we wouldn't have to get up quite so early. We went in at 6:45 and checked in.

They called my husband's cell to make sure if he left a bit they could reach him. Then we sat down. They came and got me pretty quickly after and off I went! So my surgery nurse. (sp) was Dania? She was just the best. She asked about allergies again (remember... tell them every time!) I said penicillin. As it turned out, she recognized that the antibiotic I was given has a 20% cross reactivity and apologized that maybe we should switch antibiotics. She had me change into a gown and teds and slipper socks.

Then we head into another room. Don't be me. Keep your phone for this part. I put mine in my locker. Too early! LOL SO She put my iv in. Great job. I'm not easy and she did well. Then, the Anesthesiologist came in. Brett? He was also great. Explained everything. I again questioned him about my family history of heart disease. He calmed any fears I'd had with that. He explained (as the Dr had for me on visit one) that for the lipo portion to back/flanks he would have me a bit awake... just out of it.

Then for the TT portion you are out entirely. Dr Louton came in and said, "This is your only job today just lift your skin up good and tight. I pulled it up and he drew about 1 inch below my section scar. It's getting real now! Had me turn and drew on my back. Asked me about my reaction to penicillin. I told him. He agreed. Yes, that's an allergy. So explained how they had switched meds.

Dania had explained but I really appreciate hearing things from multiple staff to be sure we are ALL on the same page. He left and a few minutes later Dania said, "Ok we're going to walk to the surgery room" Eeek! We go in. A few people are in there. She announces, entering at 8:10. (remember I'd said to keep your phone a bit? So the waiting times between people were a bit of a gap where I sat alone with no phone haha) I climb up on the table and lay down. Someone takes my mask. Someone else comes in and introduces themself.

I see my name on the whiteboard. Lots of white and lots of lights. I don't remember Dr Louton coming in but I remember being kind of up on my side and them saying OK now we wait a bit... (when the fill you with liquid you have a wait a while for the lipo) So the lipo is a bit uncomfy. Not terrible. Not scary. But you can feel some pushing and pulling if that makes sense. It's not terrible, but I wish I'd known! I remember it being over then waiting for the other side. I don't remember anything past the lipo.

I remember waking up and asking Dania, "Am I done" She said, "Yep you're done!" So I said, "can I have a drink?" She said "pretty soon. When you quit slurring." I'm not sure if it was 30 seconds or 10 min but I remember talking some more and she said, "Ok you sound good now, let me get you that drink. " I chugged my ginger ale. I then remember her pulling my shirt out of my bag and looking a second at it. I said oh it zips. I grabbed it and put it on.

And zipped it up. I remember her asking if i would be appalled if she put an adult diaper on me. Oh heck.. I don't care. Hint: take her up on this. Your back will run and run. No joke. She also tucked a chux up into them and up toward my back. Pro tip! Also when you use the restroom your back will run and run into the toilet.

The next thing I remember is being in a wheelchair and my husband coming in. I looked up and smiled. They told him to get the car. We went out and I got into my explorer. Went back to the hotel. I texted my mom in the car, "I'm good!" Then we went to our room. This was by noonish/no later than one. we got me settled and he went to get us lunch. Brought me back a sheetz 6 inch sub. I ate it all. I watched tv. Napped. Played on my phone.

Then dinner he brought us chipotle bowls. I ate about half. It tasted great! (you are on a clear diet the day before) Slept. Oh if you are short get yourself a step stool. The ONLY part that really hurt was getting in and out of bed. An accessible room may have been lower. But once I got home the step stool was so helpful. At the hotel I took my bed wedges from amazon. They were very helpful. BTW- They do a drainless TT here, which is fantastic. I'm on some FB groups for TT and those drains look dreadful. So after waking up we go to my one day PO.

They have you go in the back door. I saw the assistant. She had been in there the day before but I didn't remember her. She opened my binder and took a pic. Went over instructions and said see ya in a week. Oh she also showed me my skin pics. woahh! We headed home. Got home and parked myself in my recliner. I would get up every hour or two, use the bathroom and do loops around my 1st floor.

We slept in bed from night one. Again - step stool! I did ask my husband for the first night or two to help me sit up. You can kind of roll to your side and use your arms but it's so much easier if you have someone to pull you up. Showers, when I took my binder off it felt like my insides may fall out and my back felt like a jellyfish. I wondered how long this crazy feeling would last. Honestly a few days.

After about a week and a half I was taking long hot relaxing showers. I took pain pills here and there through night 3. Day 4 I woke up and decided to just take tylenol. BTW- they have you walking upright day 2. Or at least trying. By day 3 I was mostly upright. Day 4 all the way up. I went in for my one week at 6 days. She took off the tape and put on brown tape instead.

At 6 days PO I popped on the treadmill at 1 MPH for just a few minutes. I'm day 19. I walked 30 min at 3 mph today. My incision is nearly healed. I've had a really easy recovery. Days 1-3 were a bit uncomfy. Friday night I went for a ride with my husband to pick up food. Last week I found myself dancing in the kitchen without thinking about it. I feel really good! When I asked Tiffany at my first visit what they would tout as reasons for going there rather than to another Dr.

Her reasons were of course their surgery center. That's actually a great point right now. Many hospitals are probably going to stop doing surgeries again for a while. Another eason she pointed out was that they have amazing recoveries. She wasn't kidding. Again, I'm on FB TT groups. Many women are not standing up straight at several week. Many are taking pain pills weeks out. Some are still on the recliner sleeping at 3 -4-5 weeks. My incision is healing really well. I definitely made the right choice.